Mitt Romney spoke to the NAACP convention in Houston, Texas, today. The Republican candidate delivered a speech short on specifics and long on tepid generalities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: Some may wonder why a Republican would campaign in the African-American community and to address the NAACP. One reason, of course, is I hope to represent all Americans of every race, creed, and sexual orientation --

(APPLAUSE)

ROMNEY: -- from the poorest to the richest and everyone in between.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Romney was greeted with polite applause throughout the speech, and even got some encouraging organ music.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: I can`t promise you that I`ll agree on every issue, but I do promise that your hospitality to me today will be returned. We will know one another.

(APPLAUSE)

ROMNEY: And we will work to common purpose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: The audience gave Romney their attention and a fair hearing.

At the end of the speech, the crowd respectfully offered a standing ovation to the candidate. The attendees gave him some credit for showing up -- unlike the previous president, George W. Bush, who openly shunned any invitations to the NAACP convention.

But there was one moment where Mitt Romney delivered an actual policy position. The reception, well, that was not very warm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: If our goal is jobs, we have to stop spending over a trillion dollars more than we take in every year. And so to do that --

(APPLAUSE)

ROMNEY: -- and so to do that, I`m going to eliminate every non-essential expensive program I can find. That includes Obamacare, and I`m going to work to reform and save --

(BOOS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Fourteen seconds. That`s how long Mitt Romney was booed for saying he will repeal Obamacare. Reporters on the scene said the reaction was stunning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: I have not heard that kind of sustained booing for Mitt Romney during the course of this campaign up until what happen today at the NAACP. I don`t think it really is sort of overstating it. This was perhaps one of the most negative reactions Mitt Romney has had in the course of his 2012 presidential campaign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: After the speech, Romney said he expected to be booed by the crowd. He told FOX News the crowd was with him more than they were against him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: At the end of my speech, having a standing ovation was generous and hospitable on part of the audience, and I believe that while we disagree on some issues like Obamacare, on a lot of issues people see eye to eye. They want somebody who can get the economy going again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: African-Americans want someone to get the economy going, no doubt. But they don`t want Mitt Romney.

In a recent poll NBC News put out, along with "Wall Street Journal", only 1 percent of African-American voters want Mitt Romney to be the president of the United States.

The NAACP released a statement thanking the candidate, Mitt Romney, for coming out, and pointed out how little support Romney has in the African-American community. It read, "Unfortunately, much of his agenda is at odds with what the NAACP stands for -- whether the issue is equal access to affordable health care, reforming our education system, or the path forward on marriage equality."

One audience member told "BuzzFeed", "You cannot possibly talk about jobs for black people at the level he`s coming from. He`s talking about entrepreneurship, savings accounts -- black people can barely find a way to get back and forth from work."

African-American voters have no reason to trust Mitt Romney, especially when he says things like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: In June, while the overall unemployment rate remained stuck at 8.2 percent. The unemployment rate for African-Americans went up from 13.6 percent to 14.4 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Yes, unemployment in the African-American community has gone up. But you see, the devil`s in the details. From 2008 to 2010, Africa African-Americans made up more than 21 percent of the public sector workforce. There are 30 percent more likely to work in the public sector than non-black workers.

Check out this number: 636,000. That`s how many public sector jobs have been lost while Republicans have been calling for eliminating more and more government employment.

Mitt Romney`s solution for the economy is to keep cutting public sector jobs. It`s popular with the Republicans.

Romney`s record as governor of Massachusetts is also a pretty tough sell for African-Americans. According to the former head of the Boston NAACP, the only time the NAACP had any interaction with the administration and the governor was to protest when he eliminated the Affirmative Action Office.

Romney never spoke about the Republican voter ID laws being implemented across the country, and he should have. Twenty-five percent of African-Americans lack the proper ID to comply with these laws. Many of these voters are in key swing states like Pennsylvania and Florida.

Romney also didn`t mention how his tax policy would affect African-American families. The median income for African-American households in America is at $32,000. Well, Romney`s tax plan would raise taxes on those making less than $30,000 a year while people on the opposite end of the scale, they would get a nice tax cut -- again.

Romney didn`t talk about any of these things today because he can`t. And if he tells the truth about his policies and how they affect the African-American community, he will get booed just like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: If you want a president who will make things better in the African-American community, you are looking at him. You take a look.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Well, those voters have taken a look, Mitt Romney, and 99 percent of them don`t like what they see.

Get your cell phones out. I want to know what you think. Tonight`s question: whose are better for the African-American community? Text A for President Obama, text B for Romney, to 622639. You could always go to our blog at Ed.MSNBC.com. We`ll bring you the results later in the show.

I`m joined tonight by Hilary Shelton, senior vice president for advocacy and policy , and the director of the Washington bureau of the NAACP, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

Gentlemen, great to have you with us tonight.

Something interesting developed after the speech today. Mitt Romney said he had a secret meeting with black leaders after his speech today. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: I spoke with a number of African-American leaders after the event, and they said, you know, a lot of folks don`t want to say they`re not going to be voting for Barack Obama, but they`re disappointed in his lack of policies to improve our schools, disappointed in urban policy, disappointed in the economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMNEY: All right, Mr. Candidate, give me some names. Who are these people that came up to you and said they`re actually going to support you?

Hilary Shelton, I`ve got to you, do you know about the secret meetings after the speech today?

HILARY SHELTON, NAACP: I`m not surprised. Quite frankly, the campaign gave me a list of African-American VIPs that they brought in to the NAACP meeting. So we were aware they had people brought in specifically for the campaign.

So I`m sure those are the ones they sat down with because quite frankly, none of the rank-and-file NAACP met with him.

SCHULTZ: None of them met with him?

SHELTON: None of the rank and file NAACPers?

SCHULTZ: What leaders is he talking about?

SHELTON: He`s talking about people like Niger Innis that was brought in from New York. He`s talking about African-American Republican politicians that were actually brought in, flown in, to the NAACP convention in Houston, Texas, to be there for the president alone. They weren`t there before he got there. The few meetings -- our convention started on Sunday.

SCHULTZ: I think a big key here, and I want to clarify, are these members of the NAACP? You said they were flown in. That means Mitt Romney rigged the crowd to support him so he could go on TV and say I got a lot of support among African-American leaders. What`s happening here?

SHELTON: Apparently, that`s what the case is. They`re bringing people in that they know will support his agenda from other places that aren`t active with the NAACP. These are people who were brought in to actually provide the cheering forum so there will be some support along those lines.

But, Ed, let me be clear. The NAACP is one of the most respectful organizations on the continent.

SCHULTZ: No doubt.

SHELTON: Quite frankly, we have heard from many Republican candidates in the past. If they say things we disagree with. We sit on our hands and listen politely. We really do want to hear from all sides.

We`re nonpartisan. For us, it`s about the agenda. It`s about what you plan on doing for our communities.

So, in this case, the problem, and the reason the booing happens in the first place, quite frankly, wasn`t because he criticized the Affordable Care Act. It`s because of his characterization of it using Barack Obama`s name along those lines, seemed very disrespectful. So, those kind of things were very problematic. If we walk through the issues and agendas that he raised, sure, we disagree with him, and no we don`t think they`re in the best interest of the NAACP or the communities we serve.

SCHULTZ: OK.

SHELTON: As a matter of fact, what we did with this particular convention is set our policy, and as the press release that was released said, these policies are in diametric opposition in many cases with the policy positions of the NAACP.

SCHULTZ: All right. Mayor Nutter, your city is 44 percent African-American, 18 percent of registered African-American voters in Philadelphia, they lack a voter id. Does Mitt Romney need to answer for these voter ID laws?

MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER (D), PHILADELPHIA: Well, if he`s running for president of the United States, he should certainly have something to say about it. If he cares about the American right to vote and today he was out at the NAACP, probably said the word African-American or black more times today than maybe he`s said in his life, then he should have something to say about it.

I mean, increasingly, as we see him on this campaign trail, listen to what he`s talking about, I`m increasingly of the opinion that Mitt Romney is a fake. He is a phony. He is playing a role. He checked off the box today that he went to the NAACP.

As you just laid out, I had not heard this part of the story. Apparently now he traveled with his own posse of black people to then be able to characterize he had some conversations with some black folks who are supportive of his campaign.

But as Hilary pointed out, they weren`t members of the NAACP. I mean, this is the biggest okie doke that has come along in a while. I mean, it`s just part and parcel of the insult that he laid out today, as was already characterized, using the president`s name in a disrespectful, insulting fashion as a part of the health care reference.

It was clearly a throw away line. I heard the audio, and he was almost brushing past it, and then the avalanche of boos came on because of what he was saying. I mean, this is pretty outrageous, as this story continues to develop.

SCHULTZ: Well, it is so like Mitt Romney. This is a man who has been very vague, short on specifics. And now he`s telling FOX News that he actually met with black leaders that support him. It`s just so like him.

NUTTER: That apparently he carries around like he carries them in his back pocket and then pops them out in a meeting in an office and says, oh, I met with some black people. They weren`t the folks you came to talk to. I mean, this is insane.

SCHULTZ: Well, you`re a mayor of a large city, Philadelphia. Do any of his policies match up with the African-American community?

NUTTER: I don`t think he`s talking about anything that matches up with most of America -- black, white, green, yellow, red. I mean, he was in Philly a couple months back at a school, and of course, got his picture taken with some little black children, and then started talking about his education views, one of which is that smaller class size is not better for children. I mean, that`s just kind of dumb. I mean, every second grader knows better than that.

That he cut funding for education when he was governor, that`s a fact. He laid off teachers, firefighters, and police officers. That`s a fact. And left his state pretty much in disarray. That`s a fact.

So he should be coming forward, talking about specific plans and ideas. It`s July. The election is in November.

What is his education plan? We don`t know. What is his real tax reform plan? We don`t know. What is his job creation strategy? We don`t know.

He wants to spend the entire campaign running around criticizing the great work of President Barack Obama who has a record. Mitt Romney has no record of doing anything in the black community, has not one leg to stand on in that regard -- and I mean, it`s kind of nutty.

SCHULTZ: Mayor Michael Nutter, you have said a lot tonight and you`re spot on.

Hilary Shelton and Michael Nutter, great to have you with us on THE ED SHOW.

Remember to answer tonight`s question here at the bottom of the screen and share your thoughts on Twitter @EdShow, and on Facebook. We want to know what you think.

The greatest lie ever told about President Obama has been smacked down by the simple truth, and we`ll bring it to you next.

And later, the latest on the whereabouts and well being of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. There`s breaking news on that story.

Stay with us. We`re right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Coming up, this is one of the greatest Republican lies of all time. They say it all the time. It`s debunked, next.

And a new report from the nation magazine finds that Mitt Romney`s biggest supporters -- well, they also hide their money overseas. We`ll talk to the man who broke that story.

And today, it was repeal and replace, and it was really repeal and disgrace. I`ll talk to the Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer about today`s Republican spectacle.

Share your thoughts on Twitter with us, on Facebook, and Twitter, using the #EdShow.

We`re coming right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Welcome back to THE ED SHOW.

This is one of the greatest lies ever told -- the Republicans, they want every American to think this more than anything else -- that President Obama is a classic tax and spend liberal. That`s what they want you to believe.

But here`s the truth. Under President Obama, taxes have hit a 30-year low, in part because of tax cuts enacted by the president as part of the stimulus package. Average tax rates are lower than they were under President Ronald Reagan, Bush 41, and Bill Clinton, and, of course, Bush 43, President George W. Bush. That`s the truth.

These numbers come from the Congressional Budget Office and it`s true of incomes and all federal taxes absolutely combined.

Now, under President Obama, taxes are at a 30-year low despite what Tea Partiers would want you to believe. Heck, that`s what the Tea Party is about, Taxed Enough Already.

Here`s what I want you to do. Do me a favor. Just do Big Eddy a favor one time. The chart we showed you, it`s on the Web site. Send the chart to four of your conservative friends. It`s on our blob at Ed.MSNBC.com. Send it to Fred who showed up at the barbecue last week.

I mean, the chart goes through 2000, and since then, he has lowered taxes even more. Of course, by singing the payroll tax cut. Now, of course, this hasn`t stopped Republicans from complaining about taxes under the president`s watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: It sounds to me like the same old policies we have seen -- more spending, higher taxes.

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R-VA), MAJORITY: I do disagree with the notion that somehow we need to hike taxes.

MCCONNELL: We don`t have the problem because we tax too little.

BOEHNER: We see permanent tax increases put into effect in order to pay for temporary spending.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), WISCONSIN: The last thing we should be doing is raising taxes on the economy.

BOEHNER: You can`t tax the very people you expect to reinvest in the economy and to grow jobs.

CANTOR: If you send a signal that you say to all of the job creators, hey, we`re going to tax you even more.

RYAN: Saying that for America to be competitive in the 21st century, we need lower tax rates.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

SCHULTZ: I`ll tell you what, I think the Republicans have to come out tomorrow and say that the Congressional Budget Office, they`re totally not credible, and we should listen to them, the Republicans.

Some of these Republicans whining was in response to the president`s pledge to let the Bush tax cuts expire for the top 2 percent, but tax rates would still be at a record low.

President Obama has had to combat the lie time and time again with the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know you hear a lot of folks on cable TV claiming that I`m this big tax and spend liberal. Next time you hear that, you just remind the people who are saying it that since I have taken office, I have cut your taxes.

Your taxes today, the average middle class family, your taxes today are lower than when I took office. Just remember that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Let`s turn to Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis.

I`ll tell you what, Chris, I cannot wait for debates. I mean, the numbers are the numbers, and the lies are the lies.

How does this play for the Democrats?

CHRIS KOFINIS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, I think it could play really well. I mean, this is a mythology that Republicans have been beating Democrats about for years. As the CBO kind of pointed out in a very dramatic way, you know, this notion that Barack Obama is Che Guevara when it comes to taxes a myth. Here`s actually more Ronald Reagan. And in fact, Ronald Reagan is more Che Guevara.

So, you know, this is the irony. The president, I think, and Democrats have cut taxes. In fact, as you pointed out, up to 2009, but when you go past 2009, we passed the payroll tax extension twice. We extended the Bush tax cuts. He`s calling for another middle class tax cut.

So, this mythology is just blatantly false. It`s a lie.

SCHULTZ: I`ll answer my own question. I don`t think most Americans get this. They have done such a great job of painting this picture and image of President Obama raising taxes because that`s all they say, that people are believing it.

Here`s President Obama talking about a typical middle class family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: But we`re talking about how over the last four years because of policies my administration put in place, we have been able to offer the McLaughlins about $4,900 in tax relief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: I mean, does the president need to do more of this. Drive this theme home? Drive this point home?

KOFINIS: I mean, I think he has to -- I mean, partly because it has become clearly the narrative in the election, partly because you have Mitt Romney`s incredibly wealthy individual, he won`t release his taxes. He has this tax cut philosophy that will just explode the deficit over $5 trillion.

So, you`ve got to hammer in, you`ve got to make this a choice. The choice is whether you`re going to stand up for the middle class or not. And I think the tax cut argument and all of the different policies the Democrats are fighting for helps re-enforce that.

SCHULTZ: And here`s the other thing, the Republicans love to tell the American people, oh, we`re the champions of small business. See what the president said today? The White House wants to increase the write-off for small businesses up to $250,000.

This will help defeat the Republican talking points, but let`s talk about business for just a moment. If you buy a piece of equipment now, a tractor, a truck, or whatever, the whole thing can be written off in 2013. That is going to go right to the bottom line for small businesses.

I mean, the truth is the truth. Republicans keep lying about this stuff. The question is, will it defeat the Republican talking points? And are the Democrats going to be good enough and smart enough to get on the same page when they go home and campaign in August?

Chris, you got the floor.

KOFINIS: Well, you know, here`s the challenge. As you kind of played out in your run-down, Republicans are incredibly on message when it comes to taxes and have been so for years.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

KOFINIS: And I think we try to do more of a nuanced argument, and the fact is it shouldn`t be nuanced, we cut taxes and we cut taxes for the middle class.

SCHULTZ: Period.

KOFINIS: We have done it every single year, period. That`s our message.

If you want middle class tax cuts, you`re going to vote for Democrats. If you want tax cuts that are going to go to the wealthiest few, vote Republicans. It`s really that simple a choice.

SCHULTZ: Chris Kofinis, great to have you with us on THE ED SHOW -- thanks.

Coming up, he`s the tax haven candidate. Find out how Mitt Romney and his friends are making their fortune. I`ll show you what`s really costing you and the country next.

And President Obama wants to keep tax rates the same for 98 percent of the American people. Meanwhile, Republicans are worried about the top 2 percent. Our panel will weigh in on that.

ERIC BOWLING, FOX NEWS HOST: If you put money in a Swiss bank account, you are doing it for a reason. I don`t know what his reason is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Mitt Romney insists that he`s not hiding anything, but he does admit a lot of his wealth is socked away in offshore bank accounts. And it turns out, you know what, he is hanging out his friends are doing the same dug on thing.

Number five is under federal investigation for allegedly hiding $3 billion from the internal revenue service. Donor number six is ranked as America`s top tax haven abuser. Numbers 10 and 11, well look at this, they are accounting firms that specialize in what? Helping people like Mitt Romney set up offshore accounts. How handy is that?

Romney is campaigning to cut taxes for all of the companies on the donors list. But Romney is refusing to answer questions like this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Is it your believe it`s unpatriotic for someone to have a Swiss bank account?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Wait a second here, this seems like a question Mitt Romney should have to handle. Here`s President Obama`s answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think what`s important if you are running for president is that the American people know who you are, what you have done, and you`re an open book. You`re asking the American people to place an enormous amount of faith in you and it`s important for you to be able to say here`s who I am and what I have done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Here`s what Romney and his buddies have done.

Offshore tax havens cost the federal government $100 billion a year. They cost the average tax filer $434 a year. That would be per American. Now, Romney is promising his friends and even bigger tax break.

Voters, you know what, it comes down to this. American people are just going to have to render judgment on whether they think that`s the best thing for America and the best thing for Americans to do.

Joining me tonight is George Zornick, Washington reporter for the "Nation" magazine.

George, good to have you with us. Tell us about the donors list. Tell us, you know, they all do what Romney does?

GEORGE ZORNICK, WASHINGTON REPORTER, THE NATION MAGAZINE: It was really striking when we looked at the list and went down name after name after name. And saw 10 out of the 11 top names on this list were people who were stashing not millions but billions of dollars overseas.

Now, we don`t know because he won`t disclose exactly what Mitt Romney is hiding. But we know what the companies are hiding. You know as you mentioned, Citigroup, the number one abuser of offshore tax havens has over 1200 tax havens. And that`s just one of them.

You mentioned the accounting firms and credit Swiss, is not only - I mean, is literally a Swiss bank that is under investigation by the department of justice right now for helping Americans evade taxes by hiding them in Swiss bank accounts.

SCHULTZ: You know, the question in that interview was is it unpatriotic? I think that question is, is it patriotic to take your money offshore? Is it the American thing to do to take your money offshore? I mean, Romney said he`s not hiding anything and that reports like yours that you came out with are just a distraction. What`s your response?

ZORNICK: No. I think contrary to what Lindsey Graham and others have said, it`s not American to hide your income from the government so it can`t tax it. You know, I think in addition, when people wonder what is this one percent versus 99 percent thing about? You know, this is a good story to tell. It`s a small economic elite that is maximizing their profits at the expense of virtually everyone else. That all of the people who are paying their taxes fairly or who would like to see the government invest more in jobs or education or health care.

SCHULTZ: George, from your reporting, what should Americans demand to know about Mitt Romney`s accounts?

ZORNICK: I think they -- everyone should know how much exactly he`s hiding, how much money -- how much taxes he would otherwise be paying. But I think in addition, what the report shows is that regardless of what Mitt Romney does or doesn`t do, it`s something that the people who are bank rolling his campaign are going to be very interested in seeing continue to happen.

You know in 2009, President Obama actually went after this practice. He was blocked by Republicans, and I think that`s something you can expect to see should there be a president Romney.

SCHULTZ: We can only imagine if this was the case for Barack Obama in 2008 that this would have been a big patriotic issue in point of conversation for the right wing in this country, no doubt about it.

George Zornick, great work. Great to have you with us.

ZORNICK: Thanks, Ed.

SCHULTZ: From "the Nation" magazine.

Coming up, breaking news on whereabouts and well-being of Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior. And there`s a lot more ahead in the next half hour of "the Ed Show." Stay with us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Will Senate Republicans vote down a tax cut for the middle class? The big panel weighs in next.

House Republicans vote to take away health care for millions of Americans for the 33rd time. House democratic whip Steny Hoyer joins me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: My message to Congress is this. Pass a bill, extending the tax cuts for the middle class. I will sign it tomorrow. Pass it next week, I`ll sign it next week. Pass it next -- you get the idea.

Talking points memo just reported, senate majority leader Harry Reid has enough votes to pass the president`s plan if Republicans agree not to filibuster it. The plan will let the Bush tax cuts expire for the top two percent exceeding $250,000 in income.

However, lower tax rates will stay the same for families making $250,000 a year or less. That means 98 percent of the American people will not see a tax hike come January.

Meanwhile, Republicans are kicking up some same old bogus arguments this morning. Senator Mitch McConnell used the old, you can`t raise taxes on the job creators. He made that pitch again. He asked senator Harry Reid for two votes. One of the president`s plan and one on a Republican plan to extend tax cuts for people of all income levels.

Majority leader Harry Reid denied the request. He argued the GOP vote would really do nothing but obstruct the president`s plan and give massive tax breaks to the people who really don`t need them in our economy.

A vote will come soon on Obama`s plan. And it should pass as long as the Republicans play ball. But remember, we`ve seen a record number of filibusters. Stay tuned.

Charles -- Mark, let me ask you first, why is it? Why is it that the Republicans want to continually protect the top two percent in the country?

MARK SIMONE, CONSERVATIVE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, listen. I don`t trust either side on this. It`s not going to be great mo matter what way it goes. But, you are talking about exposing the big lie. The big lie for ten years was that the Bush tax cuts were only for the wealthy. The Bush tax cuts were just for the rich. We are now exposing the fact that 98 percent of it went to the middle class. That`s become obvious from this.

And the question is, when you have an out of control spending problem, is the solution to figure out a way to pay for it or cut spending? We have plenty of revenue right now.

SCHULTZ: But the Republicans still want to protect the top two percent when we need more money in the treasury. The Democrats have said you want to go big, we`ll go big on spending cuts and they backed off on that. The Republicans won`t serve it up and they`re going to protect the top two percent. How else do we read that?

SIMONE: Well, I don`t trust either solutions. We have the most expensive politicians money can buy, literally. So, you have Democrats playing games. You have an economic record for the past four years you can`t run on. Jennifer Reuben, the great Washington Post columnist, calls it the shiny object strategy, just keep dangling shiny object -- .

Charles, what are we seeing here?

CHARLES BLOW, COLUMNIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Well, I disagree with that. I mean first, when you say that this would not affect the bottom 98 percent, that doesn`t mean -- hold on a second, that doesn`t mean that that is just -- that the Bush tax cuts were just operating and helping the middle class. AP did a report in December basically saying one out of every two people in America is either poor or low income.

So basically, what we`re looking at is trying to figure out ways to help people really far down the economic spectrum and being willing to go up to $250,000, which is actually very high on the income spectrum. It`s not like we`re most middle class people are.

SIMONE: One thing the Bush tax cuts did though, is took the bottom 50 percent out of the federal tax system. The bottom 50 percent really doesn`t pay any federal tax right now.

BLOW: You`re talking about income taxes. It`s a different thing than paying no taxes.

ARI MELBER, THE NATION MAGAZINE: If I could jump in for the first time. I think the problem is what Mark is saying only sounds good if you`re not paying attention. If you`re paying attention, you know that the nonpartisan congressional budget office put out a study this week that says under Barack Obama, we have the lowest tax rates of any time in the last 30 years, 17 percent, that`s lower than under George W. Bush, lower than under most of Ronald Reagan. I`m not done because I heard you out. You`re going to hear me out.

So, what you`re saying does not fix with the facts, which are we have lower tax rates under Barack Obama. The question now is do we want to continue that plan for most people, have lower tax rates for 98 percent, and do we think that deficit reduction is important enough to tax millionaires?

This is the problem, you don`t think the deficit is important enough to tax millionaires because you and a lot of Republicans don`t care about the deficit. It`s just a device to cut spending.

SIMONE: Well, nothing you say completes any -- I`m simply saying you have an out of control spending problem. I don`t know if you just want to keep finding away to pay for it. And the other thing is you have to talk about fairness in taxes. Right now, the top one percent pays 38 percent of all of the tax. The top two percent paid 40 percent. The top 10 percent pays 71 percent.

MELBER: I believe the type of numbers you are using are --

SIMONE: Federal tax.

MELBER: The numbers are looking at federal tax. You`re not looking at state, not at regressive taxes.

SIMONE: We are only talking about federal tax here.

(CROSSTALK)

MELBER: But again, do you concede, though, that Barack Obama has put out the lowest tax rates in the last 30 years?

SIMONE: Yes, that`s great. It`s wonderful.

MELBER: It is great, isn`t it?

SIMONE: But now he`s going to end it by trying to increase taxes.

SCHULTZ: He`s not trying to end it. What he`s trying to do is make sure they`re extended.

The question is will the Republicans go along with it or will they filibuster it because they`re not going to be able to protect the top two percent?

SIMONE: I`m sure they`ll filibuster it because they`re playing games as much as the Democrats are.

SCHULTZ: The majority of Americans want to see the top two percent pay more.

BLOW: This idea that it`s both sides playing games to the same degree on this particular issue is just not true. It is very hard to craft an argument that says that that top two percent should be protected from -- what is relatively minor tax increase, but would go a long way towards reducing the deficit.

And that is the argument that Republicans are making. And they keep trying to make it on this notion that in doing so, it raises taxes on the job creators. But the White House is basically saying 97 percent of all entrepreneurs would not be touched by this.

SCHULTZ: What about Romney`s plan? Well, Romney`s plan would raise taxes on people making under $30,000 a year.

MELBER: That`s right. What you have here is not a question about playing games. We have real plans on the table. We have a plan from Barack Obama that consistent with his record eases the taxes on most Americans and we have a plan for Romney that hits you with the lower income.

SCHULTZ: Will they filibuster it?

MELBER: I expect they will and I expect that a party that has done 33 votes to re, re, repeal health care, (INAUDIBLE) an upper down vote on the jobs act and other things, yes. I expect that and I think that`s wrong.

SIMONE: You can`t repeal it enough.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

Charles Blow, Mark Simone, and Ari Melber, great to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.

Coming up, new details on the mysterious disappearance and absence of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. His family and his doctors open up about his absence from Congress. That`s next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Tonight in the survey, I asked whose policies are better for the African-American community? Ninety three percent of you say President Obama, seven percent of you say Mitt Romney.

Up next, breaking news on the condition of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. His family and his doctors are speaking out. We`ll have details next. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been battling a house ethics investigation. He`s also been missing in action from Congress since early June, and now a statement from the congressman`s office and the Illinois Democrat is receiving intensive medical treatment for a mood disorder. This comes after pressure from top Democrats to disclose the congressman`s whereabouts.

The statement said the congressman is at a residential treatment facility, but no offers -- offers no specifics on the location. The statement also says Jackson Jr. is responding positively to treatment and expected to make a full recovery.

When Jackson went on leave last month, his office claimed he was being treated for exhaustion. Last week, his staff said his condition was worse than previously thought. And the son of the famed civil rights leader required in-patient treatment and was battling emotional problems.

Jackson`s medical issues come on the heels of an ethics investigation. Jackson has denied lobbying former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to appoint him to President Obama`s Senate seat in exchange for cash from Jackson`s front razor. Jackson`s father, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. says his son is on the road to recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON SENIOR, REPRESENTATIVE JESSE JACKSON JUNIOR`S FATHER: He`s slowly regaining his strength. He`s on the medical supervision and he is taking his time and recovering and of course, we pray for him and of course, the family embraces him. We hope he`ll be successful in his return.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Tonight, NBC News Andrea Mitchell reports that a family friends said the congressman`s family is in a state of disarray because the congressman is suffering from severe clinical depression and has an alcohol problem. We certainly wish him the best.

SCHULTZ: And to the big finish tonight. Actually, the big Republican flop for the 33rd time, house Republicans voted not to create jobs, not to boost the economy, and not to help the middle class in this country. But to take away health care from millions of Americans.

This afternoon, five Democrats joined the Republicans and voted to appeal the affordable care act, a law that was passed by the Congress, signed by the president, and upheld by the Supreme Court. The Republicans have vowed repeatedly to repeal the law and replace it with something else.

Democratic congressman Al Green of Texas pointed out the lack of specifics in the Republicans` alleged proposal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. AL GREEN (D), TEXAS: My constituents insist I read this bill before voting on it. And my constituents want me to read this bill. This is the replacement bill, and they want me to be sure that I understand the replacement bill before I vote to repeal. I shall now read one half of the replacement bill.

Now, I shall read the other half of the replacement bill. Now, some of you will say, Al, you read too fast. I didn`t pick up all of that. So for those who listen slowly or those who may have missed it, I shall now read the replacement bill in its entirety.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Joining me now is house minority whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Congressman, good to have you with us tonight.

REP. STENY HOYER, HOUSE MINORITY WHIP: It`s always good to be with you, Ed.

SCHULTZ: You know, this is political theater at its best. Speaker Boehner said he wanted to hold the vote today to show GOP resolve. Bottom line is they have never put anything on the table. How is this going to play with the American people, you think?

HOYER: Well, I hope it played badly with the American people. This is the 31st or 32nd or 33rd time that they put a repeal bill on the floor. Everybody knows it`s not going to pass. They`re wasting time. They`re not addressing jobs. And Al Green`s absolutely right. They want to take away, as you said, health care affordability and accountability and reliability.

SCHULTZ: They have held no hearings, have they?

HOYER: No hearings and they want to take it from millions and millions of Americans. From seniors, from young people, from kids with pre-existing conditions. They want to jerk that away from them and they have absolutely nothing on the table to replace it.

SCHULTZ: Let me ask you --

HOYER: They say repeal and replace, but they haven`t had any replacement.

SCHULTZ: As we roll into the campaign season, you`re doing what you have to do with your constituents. Is this where you want to be because the Republicans are trying to set up the narrative that it`s a terrible law, that it is socialism, and it`s not going to help people. And how are the Democrats in the messaging role going to be on this on the campaign trail? Is this for you wants to be?

HOYER: Ed, I think the president is going to be strong on this. This was a good bill. It means very positive things for all Americans in my view, those that don`t have insurance, but those who have insurance as well.

CBO says we`re going to save a trillion dollars in the second ten years of the bill`s operation. We`re going to have 30 million people who have availability of health care. We`re going to have kids who won`t have to worry about pre-existing conditions or people who transfer from one job to another. We`re going to have seniors who will have that doughnut hole eliminated for them. We`re going to have people have preventive care they won`t have to worry about cost.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

HOYER: So, I think this is a very positive message for us to take to the American people. Frankly, the Republicans lost. They thought they were going to get 50, 60, 70 Democrats to turn their back on the bill. That didn`t happen.

SCHULTZ: They thought they were going to get more votes than they did. So, in other words, do you think you can pick up seats in the house on this vote, on what happened today and on the health care law? You confident this is going to help the Democrats pick up seats?

HOYER: Ed, I think it`s going to help us pick up seats, particularly in light of the fact that we`re spending time on something that has no chance of passage, no chance of enactment, and will take things away from the American people, and ignoring the principle problem that is confronting the American people, job creation, a jobs bill.

The president had a jobs bill he sent up here that would create a million to two million jobs. I have urged Mr. Cantor to put that bill on the floor. If they don`t like it, vote against it. If they want to amend it, offer such an amendment on the floor.

But let the House (INAUDIBLE). Let the representatives of the people vote on a bill which will help create more jobs. We need that, the American people want that, and that`s what we should be spending our time on, not wasting our time for the 31st or 32nd or 33rd time on something that the Republicans know clearly will not pass but simply want to appeal to their tea party PAC.

SCHULTZ: Well, they ran in 2010 on repeal and replace. They voted to repeal 33 times. They got nothing on the table, not a single hearing, not a single proposal. I think it`s a good place for the Democrats to be right now.

HOYER: I agree with that.

SCHULTZ: Congressman Steny Hoyer, great to have you on "the Ed Show." Thanks so much.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.END

<Copy: Content and programming copyright 2012 NBC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2012 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.>